Teen Violence

Teaching Alternatives to Violence

For 14 years, Oakland’s Destiny Arts Center has brought hope and new options into the lives of young children. By teaching non-violent approaches to problem solving, the Center continues to build confidence, composure and leadership in kids who might otherwise resort to violence as a way to deal with their own pain and frustration.

Project Destiny (Destiny stands for De-Escalation Skills Training Inspiring Non-Violence in Youth) is Destiny Arts Center’s outreach program. It provides an innovative after school curriculum for "at-risk students" at several California elementary schools. Traditional martial arts is taught as a form of self discipline and community awareness, and includes meditation and Tai Chi. The art of self-defense is taught as a last resort to be used only in situations of danger, where no other nonviolence practices have worked. Program volunteers teach non-violent methods of dealing with problems so the children learn to use conflict resolution techniques as an alternative to aggression. Project Destiny offers a healthy, nurturing environment for kids after school, a time when many children are left unsupervised and could easily get involved in destructive activity.

"My evenings were filled with something that I loved. I was surrounded by youth of different shapes, sizes, ethnic backgrounds and financial backgrounds who cared
about each other, accepted each other, weren’t afraid to believe in the good of others…."

     - Daudi, a Project Destiny student

Daudi is one of many Project Destiny success stories. As an elementary school student in 1990, he attended the Project Destiny program at Longfellow Elementary School in Berkeley. It was a great experience from the beginning, according to Daudi, "The few hours a week that we spent with Sifu Kate Hobbs and Sifu Anthony Daniels quickly became filled with valuable lessons about the acceptance of each person’s individuality and abilities, the building of friendships and a nurturing space, and of finding courage and leadership skills."

Years later, Daudi returned to the Destiny Arts Center and continued taking classes. This led to his participation in the Center’s Youth Leadership Program, where students learn to teach other kids important skills — such as how to talk someone down when they are upset, how to determine when to walk away from a conflict and which situations actually require the use of one’s martial arts training to fight. Daudi’s first teaching experience at a drug rehab center for youth helped him realize the positive impact of his efforts:

"I and the others left the drug rehabilitation center that day with a great sense of sorrow for the youth that were still there, but with that sense of sorrow each one of us knew how important we were as messengers of peace, love, understanding and non-violence."

     - Daudi

Daudi continues to inspire youth on an even greater scale. He recently attended the "Power of Peace" Conference, which brings together worldwide organizations dedicated to promoting peace and non-violence. He credits the Destiny Arts Center for helping steer him in a healthy direction that has changed his life and the lives of others.

Destiny Arts Center has expanded its programs and now offers classes in hip hop-dance and other performing arts classes. Sarah Crowell, the Center’s Executive Director, realizes that while the Center does a great job with its on-site programs, many kids do not live close enough to take advantage of the classes. She sees Project Destiny as a critical way to reach kids in their own schools and hopes to make it available in more Oakland schools soon.

"At DESTINY you are destined for great things, destined to dream, reach your dreams, destined to confront your fears no matter how small, tall or trivial they may seem."

     - Daudi

Want more information about the Destiny Arts Center? Visit www.destinyarts.org or by send an email to info@destinyarts.org.